MH17 pilot’s son seeks justice after UN ruling on Russian responsibility
Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan (far left) on vacation with his late father Wan Amran and brother Wan Uzair in an old photo, courtesy of the boys’ mother.PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PETALING JAYA – After a United Nations agency declared that Russia was responsible for the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan Wan Amran paid tribute to his late father Wan Amran Wan Hussin, who had captained the plane.
He described July 17, 2014, as the most painful day of his life, marking the loss of his father in what he termed the “senseless downing” of the flight and “an act of violence that claimed 298 innocent lives and shattered countless families”.
“Over a decade has passed, yet not a day goes by without thoughts of him,” said Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan, who was nine years old when the plane was brought down by a Russian surface-to-air missile as it flew over a disputed part of Ukraine.
READ: Russia, Ukraine face off at World Court over MH17 airliner downing
“His laughter, his discipline and his quiet strength are deeply missed,” he said of his father, a day after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) ruled that Russia was responsible for the air disaster.
Commenting on the ruling, Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan said it had reignited calls for justice and compassion for all affected families, and that the authorities should show more “resolve and compassion” following the ruling.
“MH17 was not just a plane; it was our national carrier, carrying our people under our flag.
“The ICAO findings and international investigations have made it clear – Russia was responsible.
“And still, the authorities have failed to act with the resolve and compassion expected in the face of one of the worst aviation tragedies in history,” he said.
READ: ‘Strong indications’ Putin involved in MH17 downing, prosecutors say as probe ends
Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan, who is following in his father’s footsteps and pursuing an aviation career, said his father’s mentorship was “stolen” not just by those responsible for the attack, but also by what he said is a system that failed to defend his father after his death.
He said the Transport Ministry’s response following the ICAO’s findings has been “cold, procedural and lacking in even the most basic forms of human compassion”.
“We, the next of kin, have been treated as if we are just a footnote in a long-forgotten chapter,” he said, adding that there has been no significant recognition, no clear path towards justice, and certainly, no meaningful compensation that reflects the scale and gravity of this international atrocity.
“Compensation should be paid not just as a financial obligation, but as a national duty and a symbol of dignity,” he said.
He added that families should not have to chase what is rightfully theirs.
On May 13, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the ministry would issue a statement regarding the ICAO’s findings.
Flight MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Russian missile while flying over eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces were fighting pro-Russian separatists.
Reiterating his father’s service to the nation, Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan said: “Captain Wan Amran served Malaysia with pride. He was not just a pilot. He was a son of this nation, and he died carrying our flag in the sky.
“It is heartbreaking to know that his service and his sacrifice have not been met with the respect and protection they deserve.”
In a heartfelt plea, Mr Wan Yusuf Irfan called for the government to acknowledge the moral and emotional responsibilities owed to the victims and their families.
“We do not ask for pity. We ask for justice. We ask for memory. We ask for compassion. We ask to be seen,” he added. /dl
